The Raven & The Spider (CURRENTLY UNDERGOING HEAVY EDITING)

Chapter 29 - Encounter on Caxton Street

Your POV (Second Person):

You froze in your tracks. Not only were Smile and Black standing but a few feet away from you, but a dozen officers also crowded around a taped off area with the bloody corpse of a woman in the dead center.

You considered running away out of sheer fear, but your curiosity got the best of you. You held your hand over your nose to stifle the smell of death and listened intently to the conversation between Smile and the officers.

"I can't believe there's been another one!" Shouted a man with shaggy, auburn hair and a mustache. "You'd think that with so many people on the case, the murderer would be less active out of fear."

"Unless the murderer isn't human." Teased another man as he grabbed the first around the shoulders, causing him to jump.

"Quiet. Both of you." Snapped yet another man with dark grey sideburns and small brown eyes. "It was hard enough blocking this area off from the public and you two are just going to attract all the attention again with your carrying on."

"Sorry, Randall." Said the auburn haired man shyly, as he rubbed the back of his neck.

You then heard Smile sigh with exasperation. "Gentlemen, please. Might we get back to the task at hand?"

"Of course, Phantomhive." Replied Randall with a roll of his eyes. "Though I've already told you that the Scotland Yard is perfectly capable of handling this case by ourselves."

You leaned out from behind the building a bit more to catch a glimpse of Smile. He was dressed similarly to that night at the circus, when he'd first attended as a spectator. So it was him. You thought. Smile was now wearing a grey suit vest underneath a navy blue long coat with matching pants. His right eye was still covered with a patch, though this time it appeared to be a black patch made of gauze. He wore a black string tie around his neck and carried a cane. Last but not least, he had a black cloak draped around him and an expensive looking top hat placed upon his head. It was obvious that he was extremely wealthy, simply by his attire alone. Not to mention he seemed to be important due to the clear respect the officers were showing the boy.

"Let's recount the facts, shall we?" Asked Smile impatiently. "This is the fifth murder in the past several months, and once again the victim is female. All the murders seem to have happened around this general area, and so far none of the suspects have confessed while in custody."

"That is correct, Phantomhive." Replied Randall. "However, we have a few witnesses we'll need to question who have claimed to have seen a shadowy figure around this area during the speculated time of murder."

You began to tune out the officer's recollection of facts as you drifted into your own thoughts. So, Smile is a noble, that much is clear, but more than that, he appears to be somehow involved with the Scotland Yard. How can a boy of that age even be allowed to see the crime scene, let alone help with the investigations? That head officer... Randall was it...? He had addressed Smile as "Phantomhive". Could that perhaps be his surname? It would be quite unfortunate if that were his forename, though I doubt the head officer would refer to him by his forename...

Your thoughts were interrupted as Big Ben's chime resonated through the streets of London, signaling the time as 9 AM. Your attention was directed back to the alley as Smile, or rather "Phantomhive" said, "Well, that will be all for now. Make certain you keep this area blocked off until the crime scene has been thoroughly examined and cleaned. If any new information is discovered, I expect to be informed immediately. Farewell, Gentlemen."

With that, Smile and Black began walking in the opposite direction of where you were standing; towards Chapel Street. I can't let them get away. You thought. I must have answers! You decided to follow the two males but you couldn't walk through the crime scene will all those officers standing around. Plus, you really didn't want to get a closer look at that mangled corpse. You quickly ran back the way you came up Buckingham Road and made a quick turn on York Street. Up ahead, Smile and Black stepped into a high-class carriage and with a crack of the diver's whip, were gone.

Damn. You thought as you stomped your foot on the cobblestone ground. They've gotten away. Your mind quickly started moving at the pace of an Arabian horse spooked by a strike of lightning. It began filling with ideas or any sort of explanation as to why Smile and Black were here in London, and what they could possibly have to do with the Scotland Yard. However, no idea seemed to fit quite right. Your thoughts were once again interrupted as you felt a firm hand on your shoulder.

You yelped and jumped back in surprise. You whipped your head around to see the man with the shaggy auburn hair looking down at you. "Pardon me, Miss." He said kindly but sternly. "I'm afraid you can't be in this area at the moment. I don't mean to scare you, but a murder has just been conducted here recently, and it isn't safe for a young girl like you. I suggest you go home immediately."

You nodded with relief, thanked the man, then turned to head back to the Alabaster Owl. Your heart was thumping with exhilaration, though it wasn't pounding nearly as much as your head. All these ideas and questions swimming around like pike in the river Thames. You trudged towards the tavern with your paper in hand, and coins jingling in your apron pocket. How would you find Smile and Black again, and would you be able to figure out what's been happening?